1880: A Huge German Cathedral which was once the World’s Tallest Building

Story Highlights

Historical event:

14 August 1880

It is interesting that the Cologne Cathedral is today the most-visited tourist attraction in Germany, being annually visited by around six million people. At the time it was completed, it was the largest building in the world (its spires are around 157 meters tall).

On this day, the completion of the famous Cologne Cathedral was solemnly announced.

The Cathedral is one of the greatest symbols of Catholicism in Germany. It is an exceptionally large building, and was the tallest one in the entire world at the time it was completed (its spires are around 157 meters tall). It is interesting that the Cologne Cathedral is today the most-visited tourist attraction in Germany, being annually visited by around six million people.

The building of the cathedral lasted for almost 632. Namely, its foundation stone was set in 1248, in the High Middle Ages and Gothic architecture. However, construction ceased in 1473. The building was left in this unfinished state for around 400 years, as was the large medieval crane at its top.

Construction resumed in the 19th century, funded by citizens’ donations. It is interesting that even the Prussian court financed these efforts, despite being Protestant (most likely in order to improve its relationship with its Catholic subjects). The ceremony held on this day was attended by German emperor Wilhelm I Hohenzollern.

The Cologne Cathedral became the largest religious building in Germany, and its spires were of a record height until the time it was surpassed by the Protestant church in Ulm (which remains the tallest church in the world – 161.5 meters).